Automatic ice cube maker with water fill deflection mechanism



Feb. 28, 1967 w. L. FOX 3,306,065

AUTOMATIC ICE CUBE MAKER WITH WATER FILL DEFLECTION MECHANISM Filed July 2, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS Feb. 28, 1967 Filed July 2, 1965 W. L. FOX

AUTOMATIC ICE CUBE MAKER WITH WATER FILL DEFLECTION MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Maw/v A 6% 7 ATTORNEYS Feb. 28, 1967 w. L. FOX

AUTOMATIC ICE CUBE MAKER WITH WATER FILL DEFLECTION MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 2, 1965 I N VE/EIOR M444! r01 m w w m 1967 w. L. FOX 3,3@6,065

AUTOMATIC ICE CUBE MAKER WITH WATER FILL DEFLECTION MECHANISM Filed July 2, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

I M gy%%% 7 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,396,665 AUTOMATIC ICE UUBE MAKER WITH WATER FILL DEFLEUI'ION MECHANISM Wiliiam 1.. Fox, Niles, Ill., assignor to The Dole Valve Company, Morton Grove, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed .Iuly 2, 1965, Ser. No. 469,288 8 Claims. (Cl. 62--177) The present invention relates to an improved ice making apparatus of the type particularly adapted for use in the freezing compartment of a household refrigerator.

One household type of ice making apparatus which has recently found rather widespread acceptance in the industry is that which employs one or more ice trays formed of flexible material and which trays are inverted and then twisted about their longitudinal axes to effect ice block ejection. In completely automated versions of such ice making assemblies, means are provided for filling the trays with a measured volume of water.

The instant invention finds application in those automatic ice making assemblies in which multiple trays are provided and in which ice formation in the trays is effected out of phase such that one tray is filled with water while another tray contains water which is already freezmg.

In general the instant invention requires only a single fixed source of water such as a water spigot. A stream deflector is provided which is positionable in the path of a stream of water flowing from the spigot so as to direct the Water to one or the other of the trays.

In a two-tray system the stream deflector is so designed that rotary movement of each tray (such as occurs during an ice ejection cycle) will positively position the stream deflector in the proper location for the next tray fill.

It is therefore a principal object of my invention to provide apparatus for alternately filling ice trays in an automatic ice making system.

More specifically, my invention is directed to an automatic ice making system wherein a pOWer member alternately rotates different ice trays in proper sequence and at the proper time in their freezing cycles for properly positioning the trays during filling, freezing, and overturning thereof, the rotating ice trays operating a drive member to properly position a water stream deflector to alternately fill the ice trays.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from time to time as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of an ice making apparatus within which the stream deflecting mechanism of our invention operates, such apparatus shown mounted in the freezing compartment of a household refrigerator;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of ice trays, a drive unit for rotating the trays and a deflector arrangement in accordance with the principles of my invention;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of a deflector in a first position so as to fill a first tray;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of a deflector being placed in a second position thus allowing a second tray to be filled with water;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view of the ice making apparatus as viewed from the left side of FIGURES 1 and 2 and illustrating the relative disposition of parts when the ice trays are positioned as shown in the full lines of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic view of an electric circuit contained within this ice making apparatus which operates a water solenoid valve to control the flow of water to the deflector;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of pottions of a clutch mechanism and associated parts illustrating the positions they assume in FIGURE 5.

In the general overall view of FIGURE 1, the ice making apparatus 10 embodying my invention consists of a pair of ice trays 11, 12 contained within a top and hottomless cage 13, and positioned within a freezing compartment 14 defined by the wall 15 and freezer floor 16 of a household refrigerator. A casing 17 is supported on the cage 13, and the cage in turn is secured to the wall of the freezing compartment. The casing contains the components which serve to control filling and twisting of the ice trays 11, 12. A collection tray 18 is positioned on the freezer floor 16 directly beneath the ice trays 11, 12 and serves as a storage bin for ice blocks ejected from the trays. A spout 19 and deflector 20 are also contained within the cage 13. Water from the water inlet is lead by the spout 19 to the deflector 29 which is properly positioned at the correct time by means to be shown so as to properly alternatively fill the trays 11, 12.

It may be seen from FIGURE 2 that the ice trays 11, 12 have the same general configuration and are formed with a flat top boundary surface 21. The shaft assemblies 22, 23 project through a wall 17a of the casing 17 and are composed of similar shaft portions 24a, 24b and clamp portions 25a, 25b. The shaft assemblies 22, 23 accommodate the surface 21 at one end of each tray 11, 12 so that the shafts are drivingly connected to the trays. The trays are supported at the free end by clamps 26a, 2611 which are rotatably mounted to one wall of the cage 13, and which accommodate the surface 21 of the free end of each ice tray 11, 12. The clamps 25a, 26a and the surface 21 allow the ice tray 11 to be simply and easily removed from the ice making assembly should this be required. This same arrangement is provided for tray 12. It will be observed that the trays are supported for pivotal movement about their longitudinal axes and, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the tray 12 is mounted somewhat above and rearwardly of the tray 11.

The trays 11, 12 are formed of a plastic, flexible material such as high density polyethylene and will effect the ejection of ice blocks therefrom when turned and twisted in the manner to be described.

It will be observed that the trays each have a plurality of ice mold Wells 27 formed therein and a series of weirs 28 connecting each of the wells. Water from the water inlet may thus travel down the spout 19 to the deflector 20 and to either ice tray 11 or 12. In the position of the trays and deflector as shown in FIGURE 2 Water from the spout 19 will be deflected into tray 12 and will be communicated from one mold well to the other by the weirs 28.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in which ice trays 11, 12 are diagrammatically shown, stops 29a and 29b extend outwardly from one wall of the cage 13 and are rigidly affixed in position there to serve to limit the degree of rotatable movement of the trays 11, 12. When the trays 11, 12 are rotated back to their filling position, the stops prevent further rotation of the trays.

The top trough 30, bottom trough 31, and arm 32 having a slot 33 therein, are all integral parts of the deflector 20. The arm 32 is pivotally mounted to one wall of the cage 13, to allow water from the spout 19 to flow into either the top or bottom trough. Drive member 34 has a slide 35 and a drive end 36; tabs 37 at each end of the slide support the slide only for rectilinear movement. A pin 38 is mounted on the drive end 36 at right angles thereto and is inserted within the slot 33 so as to be operatively associated with the arm 32. It can be seen from FIGURES 3 and 4 that if the slide 35 is moved rectilinearly by an upward force the pin 38 in moving to the top end of slot 33 would pivot the arm 32 in a counterclockwise direction. Similarly, if the slide 35 was given a downward force the pin 38 in moving to the bottom end of the slot 33 would move the arm 32 in a clockwise direction.

In FIGURE 3, the dotted lines show tray 12 as being rotated in a clockwise direction allowing bumper 39 to exert an upward force on slide 35 thus moving the pin 38 toward the upper end of slot 33 to exert a counterclockwise pivotal movement to the arm 32. It may be noted that the top trough would now divert water from the spout 19 into tray 12 after the tray had returned to its normal filled position.

As can be seen from FIGURE 4, ice tray 11 in the dotted position, has been rotated clockwise allowing the bumper 40 mounted thereon to strike the slide applying a force in the downward direction, thus moving arm 32 in a clockwise direction and allowing water from spout 19 to be guided by bottom trough 31 into the tray 11 after it has returned to its normal filled position. In either case, if there is no force being applied to slide 35, arm 32 is retained in position by a slight frictional engagement between the arm and one wall of the casing 13. It may be noted that trays 11 and 12 are identical with bumpers 39 and 40 mounted on opposite sides thereof, the particular bumper which is necessary to drive the slide member 35 is determined by the position of the tray in the assembly. Thus, only one type of ice tray need be manufactured and would function properly in either position.

The entire ice tray assembly including the casing 17, the top and bottomless cage 13, the spout 19 and the deflector 20 are mounted within the freezing compartment of the refrigerator in any suitable manner with both the casing and the trays positioned within the freezing compartment.

Referring now to FIGURE 5 the mechanism for controlling the filling, freezing, and rejection operations and which in turn drives the deflector is contained within the casing 17 and will be described in more detail. In FIG- URE 5 the greater portion of an end wall 41 of the casing 17, situated opposite the end walls 17a, is cut away for purposes of clarity, and it will be noted that a pair of sector gears 42a and 42b are fixedly mounted on the shaft 24a and 24b for corotation therewith. Shafts 24a and 24b are, in turn, journaled for rotation on the end wall 41 of the casing 17.

Sector gears 42a and 42b have teeth 43a and 43b formed thereon which extend, respectively, in an arc of about 90, and in the position of the sector gears as shown in FIGURE 5, wherein teeth 43a are facing substantially upwardly and teeth 43b are facing substantially downwardly, the shafts 24a and 2411 are positioned such that the trays 11 and 12 are in their normal or upright positions as shown in the diagrammatic full lines of both FIGURES 3 and 4.

Suitable power means are provided for alternately rotating the sector gears 42a and 42b through the arc of the gear teeth formed thereon, and correspondingly for rotating their respective shafts 24a and 24b, in order to tilt or invert the ice trays 11 and 12, and in the illustrated embodiment such power means comprises a temperature sensitive power unit indicated generally at 44 having a telescopically extensible piston or pin member 45 which projects outwardly from a retracted position thereof as shown in FIGURE 5 upon the application of heat to the power unit 44.

The power unit 44 is fixedly mounted on the wall 17a of the casing 17 and also mounted on the wall 17a is a fiat elongated guide member 46 which extends in parallel relation to the axis of the power unit 44 and which has an axially extending track means or groove 47 formed therein for guiding in rectilinear movement a sliding bracket 48.

An axially adjustable threaded plug 49 is mounted on the sliding bracket 48 in concentric alignment with the pin or plunger 45 of the power unit 44 for adjusting the relative disposition of the bracket 48 with respect to the pin member 45.

Biasing means are provided for biasing the sliding bracket 48 toward the power unit 44 so that an end wall 50 of the plug 49 is maintained in abutting engagement with an end wall 51 of the pin 45 and for this purpose a coil spring 52 having a relatively high K factor is bottomed at one end thereof as at 53 against a shoulder 4 of the bracket 48, and is bottomed at an opposite end thereof at 55 against a flange 56 fixedly mounted on the casing wall 17a.

The temperature sensitive power unit 44 is of a type well-known in the art and includes a temperature sensitive portion 57, a collar 58 and a guide portion 59 in addition to the telescopically extensible piston or power member 45.

Suitable heating means which in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, comprises a heater coil 60 is wrapped around the temperature sensitive portion 57 and it will be appreciated that when the coil 60 is electrically energized or otherwise heated, the piston 45 thereof will move gradually outwardly from its retracted position as illustrated in FIGURE 5. The sliding or follower bracket 48 follows the movement of the piston 45, and upon deenergization of the coil 60 and cooling of the temperature sensitive portion 57, the piston 45 will gradually retract inwardly due to the biasing effect of the spring 52.

A sloping gear rack is formed by lower portion 71 of the follower or sliding bracket 48 and is adapted to mesh with gear teeth 72 formed on a complementarily shaped spiral form drive gear 73 mounted for free rotation about a shaft 74 supported between the casing walls 17:: and 41.

The drive gear 73 has formed therein a radially outwardly extending groove or channel 76 which receives in sliding relation a pawl member 77 which is biased radially outwardly in the channel 76 by means of a helical spring 78.

It will be apparent that as the piston 45 moves from its retracted position as shown in FIGURE 5 to an extended position, the drive gear 73, and correspondingly the pawl 77, is rotated from the position therein shown counterclockwise approximately 90.

Also mounted for free relative rotation on the shaft 74 axially of the drive gear 73 is a multi-faced gear 79 having an axially extending recess 89 formed therein which is bounded at the periphery thereof by a circumferentially continuous axially extending peripheral wall 81. The axial depth of the recess 80 is sufficient such that a substantial portion of the drive gear 73 but excluding, of course, the gear teeth 72, is housed within the recess 80 of the multi-faced gear 79.

Along an outer peripheral wall 82 of the gear 79 are various sets of gear teeth for engaging and driving the sector gears 42a and 4212. Some of the gear teeth as at 83 are formed adjacent one axial end of the outer peripheral wall 82, whereas another set of gear teeth 87 is formed to extend circumferentially in an are adjacent the arc in which the gear teeth 83 reside, but on the other axial end of the wall 82.

The sector gears 42a and 4212 are normally maintained in the positions shown therein by means of suitable biasing members which, in the illustrated embodiment, comprise respectively a torsion spring 88 wound about the shaft 240 and connected at opposite ends thereof to the shaft and to the sector gear 42a, and a tension spring 89 connected at one end thereof to the sector gear 42b and at an opposite end thereof to the casing wall 17a.

In addition, the sector gears 42a and 42b are offset with respect to the planes in which the gear teeth 43a and 43b reside, such that the teeth 43a of the sector gear 42a will mesh with the gear teeth 83 of the multi-faced gear 79, but will not mesh with the gear teeth 87, and the teeth 43b of the sector gear 4212 will mesh with the teeth 87 of the gear 79, but not with teeth 83.

It may be noted that the peripheral wall 81 of the multifaced gear 79 comprises a plurality of circumferential segmental portions with each of said portions comprising a circular span or section 99 which leads to a radially inwardly inclined section 91 which terminates at a radially extending shoulder surface 92.

he drive gear 73 and the pawl 77 comprise a clutch mechanism for translating reciprocal rectilinear movement of the follower bracket 48 into intermittent rotational movement of the multifaced gear '79, and for this reason it will be noted that the pawl 77 comprises a pillar or abutment column 96 against which one end of the spring 77 bottoms. A radially outwardly facing wall 97 of the pawl is positioned so slidably engage the inner peripheral wall 81 of the gear 79, and to be guided in radial movement thereby. Another wall of the pawl, namely, a radially extending sidewall 93, is shaped complementarily to the shoulder surfaces 92.

Referring to FIGURE 5, when the electric coil 60 is deenergized and the power unit 44 is cooled and the piston 45 has moved to its retracted position as illustrated, the follower bracket 48 is situated in its right hand position as illustrated in the drawing, and the radial wall 98 of the pawl 77 is in abutting engagement with one of the shoulder surfaces 92 of the multi-faced gear 79.

Subsequently, upon energization of the coil 69, as the piston 45 moves outwardly to its extended position, the follower bracket 48 is moved leftwardly as viewed in the drawing, wher upon the drive gear 73 is rotated approximately 90 in a counterclockwise direction. As a result of this rotation of the drive gear 73, the gear 79 is also rotated through the same arc by the pawl 77.

As the gear 79 is rotated counterclockwise the gear teeth 87 formed thereon will engage and mesh with the gear teeth 43/) of the sector gear 42b and rotate the sector gear 42b clockwise for about 90 or more degrees to tilt and twist the ice tray 12, whereupon the ice will be dumped therefrom. It can be seen from FIGURE 3 that as the power unit 45 is heated, the sector gear 42b continues to rotate the ice tray 12 forcing the bumper 39 against the slide 35 as shown in the dotted position of FIGURE 3 to exert an upward force on the drive member 34 and move the pin 33 to the top of the slot 33, thus rotating arm 32 and enabling the top trough 30 of the deflector 2b to be in line with the spout i9. Distortion of the tray 12 will then result from the fact that the sector gear --i2b moves through a considerably greater arc than the outer end of the tray 12, since the slide is held by the tab 37 and prevents further rotatable movement of the outer end of the ice tray. Distortion of the tray 12 thus permits the ejection of the ice blocks into the collection tray 18.

The teeth 87 are arranged so as to extend in an arc which is less than the arc through which the gear 79 rotates as a result of the rotation of the drive gear 73. As a consequence, after all of the teeth 41% have meshed with corresponding teeth 87 on the gear 79 they are then exposed to a blank portion of the gear 79 upon the happening of which the sector gear 42b will immediately spring back to its normal position as viewed in FIGURE 5, thereby returning the ice tray 12. to its normal or upright position in readiness to receive water from spout 19 via top trough 3 9 of the deflector 2b as illustrated by the sol d lines in FIGURE 3.

As the power unit 24 cools upon deenergization of the coil 69, and the piston 4-5 is retracted, the follower bracket 48 moves rightwardly whereupon the drive gear 73 is rotated clockwise. During such clockwise rotation the pawl 77, the radial wall 97 which is urged against the inner peripheral wall 81 of the gear 79 by the spring 78 is guided first by a circular section 90 of the wall 81, and then by a radially inwardly inclined section 91 thereof until the radial wall 93 of the pawl 77 is moved back again to snap into abutment with another shoulder surface 92 as shown in FIGURE 5. It will be appreciated that during this clockwise rotation of the driver gear 73 the multi-face gear 79 remains stationary. The next time the coil 60 is energized, and the drive gear 73 is again rotated approximately counterclockwise the gear teeth 83 of the gear 79 will engage the teeth 43a on the sector gear 42a to tilt and twist the ice tray 11, the sector gear 42]) and the ice tray 12 being maintained in a normal or upright position during this phase of the operation. During this operation, rotating of the tray 11 enables the bumper 40 to contact the slide 35 and exert a downward ,force on the drive 34 to move the pin 38 to the bottom of the slot 33, thus rotating arm 32 and allowing the bottom trough 31 of deflector 2G to be in line with the spout 19. Continued rotation distorts the tray 11 and permits the ejection of the ice blocks into the collection tray 18.

It will be appreciated, therefore, that each time the coil 60 is energized and the piston 45 moves to its extended position, and then the coil is deenergized and the piston retracted, the multi-faced gear 79 has been rotated approximately 90 in a counterclockwise direction and one of the ice trays has been tilted and dumped, and the deflector 29 has been accordingly properly positioned.

Referring to the diagrammatic view of FIGURE 6, the electric heating .coil 6 is connected through suitable electric circuitry to a pair of contacts 99 and 19-0 for connection to a source of electric power, and such electric circuit comprises an electric switch indicated generally at 161 having a pair of electric contacts 192 and 133 which are normally biased in spaced apart relation by means of an electrically conducted spring 1%.

An electrically operated water valve res for supplying water in predetermined quantities to the ice trays 11 and 12 comprises an electric solenoid operating member 197 having an electric coil or winding 1% connected in parallel with the electric heating coil 6%.

It will be appreciated that when the switch 191 is open the water valve solenoid coil 103 is deenergized, and as diagrammatically shown in FIGURE 6 this permits a charge of water to be expelled from the slug valve chamber through the spout 19 to the deflector 2i), and thence to either of the trays 11 or 12.

Electric switch 191 is actuated by the pawl 77 of the clutch mechanism, and referring to FIGURE 7, it will be noted that the electrically conductive spring 194 which has the contact 193 formed thereon is positioned adjacent the axial end wall 84 of the gear 79. In addition it will be noted that the spring 104 also has mounted thereon a radial wall 128 and an inclined wall 129. The top wall 130 of the pawl 77 terminates in a front portion 131 which also slopes similarly to the inclined wall 129. The top wall 13%) of the pawl 77 extends circumferentially a distance greater than the circumferential distance between the shoulder surface 92 and the Wall 93 of the multi-faced gear 79, so as to effectively span the gaps formed by the respective recesses 95 in the end wall 34 of the gear 79 between the walls 92 and 93 thereof.

The switch 191 including the electrically conductive spring 10-; are fixedly mounted on the wall 41 of the casing 17, and the radial wall 123 of the spring 104 is situated so as to move downwardly adjacent to shoulder surface 92 into a recess 95 due to the inherent bias of the spring 1'84. As a consequence, electrical contact T193 formed on the spring 104 is normally in spaced apart relation with respect to the stationary contact 162 as a result of the bias of the spring 194.

It will be noted, however, that as the driver gear 73 and the pawl 77 are rotated clockwise with respect to the gear 79, and particularly when the pawl 77 passes a shoulder surface 92 thereby to be moved radially outwardly to the spring 78 (such action of the pawl 77 occurring upon complete retraction of the piston 4-5) the sloping wall 131 of the pawl 77 engages the in- 7 clined wall 129 of the spring 104 to move the contact wall 103 into abutting engagement with the contact 102, thereby energizing both the heating coil 60 and the solenoid 108 of the water valve.

After the heating coil 61) is energized, the driver gear 73 along with the pawl 77 and the multi-faced gear 79 will begin to move corotatably counterclockwise. The electric contacts 102 and 103 will remain closed, however, since the radial wall 128 of the switch spring 184 will remain in engagement with the top wall 139 of the pawl 77 until the pawl rotates past the radial wall 128, whereupon the wall 128 will engage the axial end wall 84 of the gear 79 to prevent movement of the spring wall 4 and to maintain the contacts 102 and 103 in closed relation.

After the driver gear 73 and the multi-faced gear 79 have rotated about 90, another shoulder surface 92, and a recess 94 formed in the end wall 84 adjacent thereto, will move into alignment with the radial wall 128 of the spring 194 whereupon the radial wall 128 will be urged down into the recess thereby opening the electric contacts 182 and 103 to deenergize the electric heating coil 68.

As the temperature sensitive power unit 52 is cooled and the piston 45 thereof retracts, the driver gear 73, as well as the pawl 77 will again rotate clockwise, and as the wall 98 of the pawl passes the shoulder surface 92 which has moved into position adjacent the radial wall 128 of the spring 104, the pawl will then be urged radially outwardly, thereupon engaging the spring 104 to once again close the electric contacts 102 and 183 to energize the electric heating coil 60.

It will thus be appreciated that the ice forming cycle whereupon each of the ice trays 11 and 12 is successively and alternately filled with water by proper positioning of the deflector 20 and the tilting or inverting of the trays to dump the ice therefrom is a continually operating process. It should be noted, however, that the length of time required to retract the piston 45 of the power unit 44 is sufficient to enable the water in the ice trays to freeze before the respective trays are inverted and dumped upon subsequent heating of the power unit 44.

In order to prevent an excess accumulation of ice cubes in the collection tray 8 a sensing arm senses such an excess accumulation and if needed discontinues the iceforming operation of the ice-making apparatus until a quantity of cubes have been subsequently removed from the collection tray 18.

Referring to FIGURE 1, an elongated rod or sensing arm 132 extends from the casing 17 between the top of the collection tray 18 and the ice trays 11 and 12, and is pivotally mounted on the casing 17 to traverse across the top of the tray 18 in a sweeping action after each of the ice trays is inverted and dumped. In the event that the sensing arm 132 engages ice particles projecting from the top of the basket suitable means are provided in association with the sensing arm to deenergize and deactivate the apparatus 10.

Referring to FIGURE 5, it will be noted that the sensing arm 132 extends through the casing 17 and through an aperture 133 formed in the casing wall 41. An end portion 134 of the sensing arm rises vertically to be received in a flange 136 formed on the casing wall 41. It will be noted that the aperture 133 is oblong to enable the sensing arm to pivot and traverse across the top of the collection tray 18.

The sensing arm 132 also extends through a groove 137 formed in a yoke member 138 which is mounted for relative rotation on the shaft 24a. An opposite end 139 of the yoke member 138 is pivotally connected by means of a pin 140 to a sliding cam member 141.

The cam member 141 is characterized as comprising a slot 142 which is shaped to receive the shaft 74 on which the driver gear 73 and the multi-faced gear 79 are mounted. Also formed in the cam 141 is a second slot 143 bounded on one side thereof by a first cam surface 144 which leads to a second cam surface 146.

The cam 141 is also cut out as at 147 to receive a protuberance or projection 148 formed integrally with driver gear 73.

The yolk member 138 is biased in a counterclockwise direction by means of a tension spring 149 which interconnects the yoke member and a flange 15f) fixedly connected to the casing 17. In the position of the yolk member shown in FIGURE 5, the sensing arm 132 projects outwardly from the casing 17 and substantially diametrically across the top of the collection tray 18, that is, from a rear corner on one side of the basket to a front corner on the opposite side of the basket.

When the electric coil 68 is energized and the driver gear 73 begins its counterclockwise rotation the protuberance 148 formed thereon engages the cam surface 146 of the cam 141 and begins to urge the cam rightwardly as viewed in FIGURE 5 such that the shaft 74 is effectively moved into the slot 142 formed in the cam.

Such rightward movement of the cam 141 is effective to rotate the yolk member 138 clockwise through a given arc so as to effectively pivot the sensing arm 132 such that it thereupon extends substantially parallel to a rear edge of the casing 17 and along the back wall of the collection tray 18.

Continued rotation of the driver gear 73 moves the protuberance 148 into engagement with the cam surface 144 but in this position of the cam 141 the cam surface 144 is concentrically arranged with respect to the shaft 74, thereby precluding further leftward movement of the cam 141.

After the electric coil 60 is deenergized and the driver gear 73 begins its clockwise rotation, the cam member 141 will again be moved rightwardly as viewed in FIG- URE 5 when the protuberance 148 has rotated sufficient- 1y to engage the cam surface 146. The yolk member 138 is again biased to the position illustrated in FIGURE 5, and this counterclockwise rotation of the yolk member is effective to pivot or sweep the sensing arm 132 across the top of the collection tray 18.

Thus, it will be understood that the sensing arm 132 extends along the rear of the collection tray 18 when the respective ice trays are inverted to dump the ice particles therefrom, and gradually sweeps forwardly over the top of the collection tray 18 and the temperature sensitive power unit 44 cools and the driver gear 73 slowly rotates in a clockwise direction.

The sensing arm 132 is precluded from rotating in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 5 by means of a stop 136a formed on the flange 136 for abutting the end portion 134 thereof, but is continuously free to rotate in a counterclockwise direction to clear any ice in its path as it moves backwardly across the top of the collection tray 18 and to permit removal of the collection tray in any phase of operation.

Referring to FIGURES 5 and 7, it will be noted that the cam member 141 has formed thereon an axially inwardly extending abutment flange 152. As the yolk member 138 is pivoted clockwise and the sensing arm 132 extends along the back wall of the collection tray 18, the flange 152 is moved so as to be situated in further coalignment with the shaft 74. In this position of the earn 141, the flange 152 resides in the path of travel of the pillar 96 of the pawl 77 and would thereby prevent the pawl 77 from moving radially outwardly when the radial wall 98 thereof rotates into alignment with a shoulder surface 92 of the gear 79.

It will thus be appreciated that in the event the sensing arm 132 abuts ice particles as it sweeps forwardly across the top of the collection tray 18, its pivotal movement will be thereby restricted, thus preventing the cam 141 from moving back to the position shown in FIGURE 5. Accordingly, the pawl 77 will be prevented from moving radially outwardly upon full clockwise rotation of the 9 driver gear 73 to engage the spring 1l4 of electric switch 101 and thereby to close the contacts 102 and 103.

FIGURE 7 on the other hand, is illustrative of the position of the flange 152 when the sensing arm 132 has been able to sweep, without restriction, forwardly across the top of the collection tray 13. It will be noted that in this position the flange 152 is not in the path of nor does it impede the radially outwardly movement of the pawl 77, and as a consequence the contacts 102 and 103 will be closed by the pawl.

Thus, there has been provided an automatic ice-making apparatus having multiple ice trays, and wherein means are provided for diverting a stream of water alternately to one of the trays as water in the other tray is freezing.

Although the drawings and specification present a detailed disclosure of preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific forms disclosed, but covers all modifications, changes and alternative constructions falling within the scope of the principles taught by the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an ice making apparatus, a support, first and second ice trays mounted for rotatable movement on said support and within a freezing compartment, wherein the trays are alternately filled with water and ejection of ice blocks from said trays is effected by alternately rotating said trays through a predetermined arc, means for alternately rotating said trays, a fixed water source for discharging a stream of water, the improvement for alternately filling said trays with water, said improvement comprising:

a deflector pivotally mounted on said support in the path of the stream of water to direct water to said first and second trays; and

driving means mounted for rectilinear motion on said support and operatively associated with said deflector to alternately pivot the deflector to direct water to said first and second trays in response to the alternate rotational movement of said trays.

2. In an ice making apparatus, a support, first and second ice trays mounted for rotatable movement on said support and within a freezing compartment, wherein the trays are alternately filled with water and ejection of ice blocks from said tray is effected by alternately rotating said trays through a predetermined arc, means for alternately rotating said trays, a fixed water source for discharging a stream of water, the improvement for alternately filling said trays with water, said improvement comprising:

a deflector pivotally mounted on said support in the path of the stream of Water;

said deflector having a top and bottom trough to direct water to said first and second trays; and

driving means mounted for rectilinear motion on said support and operatively associated with said deflector to alternately pivot the deflector to direct water from said top and bottom trough alternately to said first and second trays respectively, in response to the alternate rotational movement of said tray.

3. In an ice making apparatus, a support, first and second ice trays mounted for rotatable movement on said support and within a freezing compartment, wherein the trays are alternately filled with water and ejection of ice blocks from said tray is eflected by alternately rotating said trays through a predetermined arc, means for alternately rotating said trays, a fixed water source for discharging a stream of water, the improvement for alternately filling said trays with water, said improvement comprising:

a deflector pivotally mounted on said support in the path of the stream of water;

said deflector having a top and bottom trough portion to direct water to said first and second trays and also having an arm portion;

a drive member mounted for rectilinear motion on said support, including a slide to move rectilinearly when pressure is exertedat alternate -slide ends by said rotating trays, said drive member also having a drive end, and means drivingly connecting said drive end to said arm to alternately pivot said arm so as to direct Water from said top and bottom troughs alternately to said first and second trays respectively.

4. In an ice making apparatus, a support, first and second ice trays mounted for rotatable movement on said support and within a freezing compartment, wherein the trays are alternately filled with water and ejection of ice blocks from said tray is effected by alternately rotating said trays through a predetermined arc, means for alternately rotating said trays, a fixed water source for discharging a stream of water, the improvement for alternately filling said trays with water, said improvement comprising:

a deflector pivotally mounted on said support in the path of the stream of water;

said deflector having a top and bottom trough portion to direct water to said first and second trays and also having an arm portion with a slot;

a drive member mounted for rectilinear motion on said support, including a slide to move rectilinearly when pressure is exerted at alternate slide ends by said rotating trays, said drive member also including a drive end having a pin integral therewith perpendicular to said drive end;

said pin riding in said slot for alternately rotating the arm so as to position the top and bottom troughs to direct Water alternately to said first and second trays respectively.

5. In an ice making apparatus, a support, first and second ice trays mounted for rotatable movement on said support and within a freezing compartment, wherein the trays are alternately filled with water and ejection of ice blocks from said tray is effected by alternately rotating said trays through a predetermined arc, means for alternately rotating said trays, a fixed Water source for discharging a stream of water, the improvement for alternately filling said trays with water, said improvement comprising:

a deflector pivotally mounted on said support in the path of the stream of water, said deflector having a top and bottom trough portion to direct water to said first and second trays and also having an arm portion with a slot;

a drive member mounted for rectilinear motion on said support, including a slide to move rectilinearly when pressure is exerted at alternate slide ends by said rotating trays;

said drive member also including a drive end having a pin integral therewith perpendicular to said drive end;

said pin riding in said slot for alternately rotating the arm so as to position the top and bottom troughs to direct water alternately to said first and second trays respectively, and frictional means between said deflector and said support to resiliently maintain said deflector in said alternate positions.

6. Ice making apparatus comprising a pair of movable ice cube trays:

means for moving said trays alternately through an injection cycle whereby said trays are moved independently of each other and in successive operations from an horizontal position to an ejection position and back to a horizontal position;

a fixed water source for supplying a stream of water;

and

Water diverter means in the path of said stream and movable alternately by each of said trays as each tray is moved through its respective ejection cycle for alternately directing water from said stream first to one of said trays and then to the other.

7. Ice making apparatus comprising a pair of movable ice cube trays,

means for moving said trays alternately through an ejection cycle whereby said trays are moved independently of each other and in successive operations from an horizontal position to an ejection position and back to a horizontal position;

a fixed Water source for supplying a stream of water;

and

water diverter means in the path of said stream and movable alternately by each of said trays only as each tray is moved from its horizontal position to its ejection position for alternately directing water from the stream first to one of said trays and then to the other.

8. Ice making apparatus comprising a pair of ice cube trays movably mounted in sideby-side relation substantially at the same elevation, a fixed water source situated above the top of said trays for supplying a stream of water:

means for moving said trays alternately through an ejection cycle whereby each tray is moved from an upright position to an ejection position and back to an upright position; and

12 Water diverter means situated elevationally between said Water source and said trays and in the path of the stream and movable between a first position for directing the stream to one of said trays and to a second position for directing the stream to the other of said trays; said water diverter means being operatively connected to said trays and movable to the first position thereof when said one of said trays is moved through an ejection cycle and movable to the second position thereof when the other of said trays is moved through an ejection cycle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 857,841 6/1907 Sprague 62- -347 X 3,055,185 9/1962 Lundstrom 62-347 X 3,188,827 6/1965 Bauerlein 62344 X MEYER PERLIN, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT A. OLEARY, Examiner.

W. E, WAYNER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN AN ICE MAKING APPARATUS, A SUPPORT, FIRST AND SECOND ICE TRAYS MOUNTED FOR ROTATABLE MOVEMENT ON SAID SUPPORT AND WITHIN A FREEZING COMPARTMENT, WHEREIN THE TRAYS ARE ALTERNATELY FILLED WITH WATER AND EJECTION OF ICE BLOCKS FROM SAID TRAYS IS EFFECTED BY ALTERNATELY ROTATING SAID TRAYS THROUGH A PREDETERMINED ARC, MEANS FOR ALTERNATELY ROTATING SAID TRAYS, A FIXED WATER SOURCE FOR DISCHARGING A STREAM OF WATER, THE IMPROVEMENT FOR ALTERNATELY FILLING SAID TRAYS WITH WATER, SAID IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: A DEFLECTOR PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT IN THE PATH OF THE STREAM OF WATER TO DIRECT WATER TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND TRAYS; AND DRIVING MEANS MOUNTED FOR RECTILINEAR MOTION ON SAID SUPPORT AND OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID DEFLECTOR TO ALTERNATELY PIVOT THE DEFLECTOR TO DIRECT WATER TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND TRAYS IN RESPONSE TO THE ALTERNATE ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT OF SAID TRAYS. 